A GUIDE TO YOUR OFFER 2018 Important information enclosed about your place at Bedfordshire
CONTENTS
Welcome
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Your offer: • Details of your offer • Accepting your offer
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Meeting your academic conditions
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Open Days and campus tours
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Accommodation
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Student finance: • Fees and finance • Additional costs • Scholarships and bursaries
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Student support
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Get more from your degree
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Your Students’ Union
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Registration: • Term dates • Registration and welcome • Timetables
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Talk to us
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Notes
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Open Day invitation
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WELCOME Congratulations on receiving your offer. We hope that you will join our university community and benefit from the transforming experiences that studying with us can offer. This guide should give you all the information you need to know about your offer, how to prepare to join us, and what you can expect if you become a student at the University of Bedfordshire. The University of Bedfordshire places a strong focus on entrepreneurship and not just employability, so that we can create the kind of graduates that organisations compete to employ. This is seen in the number of professional accreditations that many of our courses carry, and through the success of our graduates; with 92% in work and/or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2016). At Bedfordshire we can help you to develop many transferable skills, and ensure you leave with more than a degree, through internship and volunteering opportunities, a chance to take part in our Go Global programme, a range of clubs and societies for you to get involved in, and much more. That’s just one of the reasons we’ve been ranked as a top 16 university for value added in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2018). Begin your journey here: • Entrepreneurship, not just employability – our links with 3,000 organisations provide you with unrivalled opportunities to acquire practical workplace skills
• Join our global network – and take part in our Go Global programme; enabling you to travel to countries such as India, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia or New York. Learn a new language, build networks and enjoy a truly international experience alongside your studies • We support and guide you on the right path – from personal tutors to peer-assisted learning, we ensure that every student has a chance to reach their full potential • Rooted in research – our award-winning research informs our teaching so you can learn from academics whose research is changing the world we live in • Fantastic facilities – we continue to invest in state-of-the-art facilities, where our students can thrive Whatever your dream, here at the University of Bedfordshire, we work with you to make it happen. The Admissions team are on hand to offer you support and guidance during the application process and would be pleased to hear from you with any questions you might have, please contact us on: +44 (0)300 3300 073 or via email: study@beds.ac.uk We look forward to welcoming you to the University. Yours sincerely
Bob Cozens Director of Marketing, Admissions, Recruitment & Communications
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YOUR OFFER
Seven-storey library, opened in 2016 (Luton campus)
Details of your offer Your offer letter will tell you if your offer is unconditional (there are no academic conditions for you to meet) or conditional (you will have to achieve a certain grade or mark in the examinations that you are currently taking). The full details of your offer will be available on your UCAS application tracker. Please ensure you log on and make sure you understand the conditions that you are being asked to achieve. It is important to make note of any non-academic conditions that you might be asked to meet and the date that you need to achieve these by; non-academic conditions include DBS and medical checks and supporting references. If you do not understand the conditions you have been asked to fulfil, both academic and non-academic, please contact the
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Admissions team who can offer you advice and guidance. If you are no longer taking a qualification that forms part of your offer please contact the Admissions team who can discuss this with you in more detail. Accepting your offer UCAS will confirm the date that you need to accept your offer. This is individual to you and is based on the dates that your chosen universities make a decision on your application. You need to choose one offer as your firm or first choice, and you may choose one as your insurance or your second choice. Accepting an offer as your firm choice means that you are committing to joining the course and if you achieve the conditions of your offer the university must honour your place.
MEETING YOUR ACADEMIC CONDITIONS You will need to meet all the academic conditions of your offer by the 31 August in the year of your application, unless stated otherwise in your offer on UCAS, to ensure that your place is secured. This date applies even if you have applied for deferred entry. UCAS receives a large number of results from exam boards that are passed onto us so that we can confirm your place. This includes A Levels, Access to HE Diploma, BTEC awards, CACHE, ifs School of Finance, OCR, Scottish Highers and Welsh Baccalaureate results. Please check the list of qualifications that are sent to universities to see if the qualification you are taking is on this list: unibeds.info/OG_entryreqs If the qualification is not listed you will need to ensure that a copy of your results confirming your final grades is sent to the Admissions Office as soon as you know them, and at the very latest by the 31 August. It is your responsibility to demonstrate that you meet the conditions and chase your school or college for your certificates. GCSE results are not sent to the university by UCAS so if the qualification forms part of your conditional offer you will need to send your result to us when the results are published.
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OPEN DAYS AND CAMPUS TOURS We would love to meet you at one of our Open Days. These events are a great way to see the campus where you will be studying, find out more about the course from Academic Tutors, meet with our Student Ambassadors, find out about the additional support available to help you succeed, and visit our student accommodation. To register for an Open Day please visit: unibeds.info/OG_OpenDays If you cannot attend one of our Open Days you can book a campus tour. These take place regularly at our Luton, Bedford and Milton Keynes campuses and offer you the opportunity to see the campus with one of our Student Ambassadors, visit the
accommodation and, where available, meet with an academic from the subject area you are hoping to study. It is essential that you book to attend a campus tour to ensure that we are ready for your arrival: www.beds.ac.uk/campustours
ACCOMMODATION We can guarantee accommodation to all new students in our university approved accommodation. We have two approved partners; Campus Living Villages, who operate the Student Village at our Luton campus, and Liberty Living, who run 520 en-suite rooms at our Bedford campus. By choosing the university approved accommodation you will live with other new students in safety. The Student Village has rooms to suit all budgets with a choice ranging from studio flats with their own kitchenette and en-suite, to standard rooms with shared bathrooms. Liberty Living offers accommodation with a range of en-suite and studio flats, whilst the Student Village at the Bedford campus offers shared standard and study rooms. You can apply for all university approved accommodation when applications open using the online portal available at: unibeds.info/OG_CLV (Campus Living Village) or: unibeds.info/ OG_LibertyLiving (Liberty Living). All you need is your University ID number which is on all communications sent to you from the University. We will contact you when applications for accommodation open.
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Fitzroy Court, Luton campus
STUDENT FINANCE The tuition fee you will be liable for in your first year of study is given in your offer letter. If you are studying a Higher Education course for the first time you may be eligible for funding from Student Finance England. Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans are available to cover the cost of the tuition fee and to support your living costs whilst you are studying. To find out more and to check the date by when you can apply, visit: www.gov.uk/studentfinance Additional costs Your offer letter will show the cost of your tuition fee for the first year of your study, however this will not be all the costs that you need to plan for when studying with us. As well as your living expenses and accommodation costs, some courses may also require you to buy additional materials to ensure your success, particularly for art and design
and media make-up courses. For those studying these courses, any additional costs are given on your offer letter, and could include art materials, cost of field trips, uniforms, and memberships of professional bodies. Some of these items can be covered with the University’s Welcome Package. Scholarships and bursaries When you join the University of Bedfordshire as a new student you will be awarded our Welcome Package – one of the most flexible support packages of all British universities and worth a minimum of £450*. And what’s more, you can choose how you spend it, from study materials and books, to an on-campus gym membership or towards a Go Global trip. *Full terms and conditions are available at: www.beds.ac.uk/funding
Disclaimer: For the most up-to-date information on scholarships, bursaries, eligibility criteria, and information regarding your tuition fees, please visit our website: www.beds.ac.uk/funding
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STUDENT SUPPORT Student Support offers practical and confidential advice and support for all students at the University. We have several teams who can help students. The Student Engagement team offers advice if you are facing complex problems or are thinking of withdrawing or interrupting your studies. They can signpost you to internal and external support. The Disability team assists students with disability-related study support needs. They can also help students applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances. Our counselling service can help if you are experiencing any problems of a personal or
emotional nature that may be interfering with your academic work and your personal life. Personal support is offered to students experiencing mental health difficulties via our Mental Health team. Community and Faith welcome students of all faiths and beliefs. They offer pastoral support, along with information about local places of worship. Student Money Advice offers advice on budgeting and also administers the Access to Learning Fund and scholarships and bursaries. More information and contact details can be found at: www.beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
GET MORE FROM YOUR DEGREE At the University of Bedfordshire we believe that university life is not just about acquiring new knowledge. What you do in addition to your studies will distinguish you when it comes to securing those all-important graduate jobs. Through studying at Bedfordshire you get more than just a degree; a whole host of opportunities are opened up to you during your time with us. We offer both extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, so whether you want to complement your studies, or boost your skills and experience, we’ve got it covered.
Some of our co-curricular activities include: • External competitions and live company briefs • Becoming a PAL leader • Becoming a course rep • Undertaking a work placement Some of our extra-curricular activities include: • Volunteering • Clubs and societies • Go Global trips – to places such as China, India and the USA Find out more at: unibeds.info/OG_MTAD
Experience other cultures with Go Global
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YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION (SU) Beds SU is a student-led organisation. Through Beds SU you have the platform to be heard on a range of topics, whether you want to shout from the rooftops about campaigns, provide opinions on the latest student issues, vote for your new student leaders, or change something about the Union. Find out more at: www.bedssu.co.uk/beheard
At Beds you can get involved in a range of sports teams, societies, volunteering opportunities and our Raise and Give (RaG) initiative, helping you to raise money for charities that matter to you. Have a look and if nothing interests you, why not start your own student activity? Visit: www.bedssu.co.uk/beinvolved
We offer a seven-day entertainment programme during term time at the Hub (Bedford campus) and the Metro Bar and Kitchen (Luton campus). Whatever your interests are, we offer a wide range of events including live music, club nights, movie nights, pub quizzes and karaoke. For more information and a weekly events guide visit: www.bedssu.co.uk/beentertained
University is fun and exciting but at times you may need help and support. Lean on Beds SU and let us help you through individual advice, workshops or a whole range of useful information and resources. Visit: www.bedssu.co.uk/besupported
The Hub, Bedford campus
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Campus Centre, Luton campus
REGISTRATION Term dates The University term dates are available on our website, but you should normally expect to begin your studies in the last week of September and finish at the end of June. You will have two weeks’ holiday at Christmas and three weeks’ at Easter. You will need to be in attendance for all teaching weeks and assessment periods. Registration and welcome Our Registration and Welcome week takes place in September (see website for exact dates), and all new students are required to attend this week. During this week you will register with the University, and take part in course-based activities. There will also be a range of social activities for you to get involved in, and meet like-minded people. Don’t forget to visit the Fresher’s Fayre to find out
more about our clubs and societies, find out what’s happening in the local area, and pick up some great discounts. Further details of your individual induction, registration and welcome timetable will be sent to you later in the academic year. Timetables You will get your individual timetable when you register with the University and you have been allocated to your tutor and seminar groups. An indicative timetable for each course will be made available in late summer prior to the start of the course. This will give you an overview of when you are likely to be required at the University. You should plan to be available all day Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 6pm, as sessions can be timetabled across any day of the week.
TALK TO US Social media and live chat If you are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat why not follow and like us so you can be the first to know what is on at the University? You can find us at:
You can also chat to us through our Live Chat facility available on our website. Our friendly advisers can answer your questions about your offer, joining the University, student finance, accommodation and life at the University of Bedfordshire, and are available Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4pm. Chat to us: unibeds.info/OG_LiveChat
youtube.com/uobvideos snapchat: uniofbeds
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NOTES
Gateway, Bedford campus
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OPEN DAY INVITATION
Come along to one of our Open Days where you can attend subject talks, speak to our academics, support services and current students about life at university, and take a tour of our campus facilities and accommodation.
OPEN DAY DATES 2018 Wednesday 7 February Wednesday 14 February Saturday 24 February Wednesday 14 March Saturday 21 April Saturday 28 April Wednesday 2 May Wednesday 4 July
t: +44 (0)300 3300 073 e: study@beds.ac.uk Milton Keynes Luton & Bedford Aylesbury Milton Keynes Luton & Bedford Aylesbury Milton Keynes Luton & Bedford
Book your place: unibeds.info/OG_VisitUs